[0001] This invention relates to a process for the preparation of fluorinated aromatic compounds
and in particular to a process for the preparation of fluoro-anthranilic acids and
fluoroanilines. The fluoroanilines and fluoro-anthranilic acids are valuable as chemical
intermediates for the further preparation of various dyestuffs, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In accordance with this invention there is provided a process for the preparation
of fluoroaniline compounds comprising
A) reacting ammonium fluorophthalamate or a fluorophthalamic acid of the formula

where n is 1 or 2 with an alkali or alkali earth metal hypochlorite to form a fluoroanthranilic
acid of the formula

where n is as previously defined; and
B) decarboxylating the fluoroanthranilic acid by reaction with a mineral acid to form
a fluoroaniline of the formula

where n is as previously defined.
[0003] It will be apparent that the fluoroanthranilic acid produced in step a) above-may
be recovered separately. The fluoroanthranilic acids are useful intermediates in the
preparation of various other fluorinated aromatic compounds. For example the fluoroanthranilic
acid may be reacted in an acidic medium such as hydrochloric acid with sodium nitrite
to prepare fluorobenzoic ac.
[0004] The ammonium fluorophthalamates utilized in the process of this invention are a novel
class of compounds represented by the formula

where n is 1 or 2.
[0005] The compounds are prepared by the reaction of an chlorophthalic anhydride with potassium
or cessium fluoride to form a corresponding fluorophthalic anhydride and subsequent
ammonolysis of the fluorophthalic anhydride. Details for the preparation of the ammonium
fluorophthalamates are disclosed in EPC application (N. 34765).
[0006] The fluorophthalamic acids utilized in the process of this invention are a novel
class of compounds represented by the formula

where n is 1 or 2.
[0007] The compounds are prepared by acidification of ammonium fluorophthalamates. Details
regarding the preparation of the fluorophthalamic acids are disclosed in E
PC application (N. 34765).
[0008] A) The preparation of fluoroanthranilic acids (step A) by reaction of an ammonium
fluorophthalamate or fluorophthalamic with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite,
preferably sodium hypochlorite, may be carried out over a wide range of temperatures,
typically between about 40° and about 100°, and most preferably between about 60°
and about 80° Celsius. It is preferred to carry out the reaction at about atmospheric
pressure, however, subatmospheric or superatmospheric pressures may be employed, if
desired.
[0009] The decarboxylation of the fluoroanthranilic acid (step B) is carried out by reaction
with an aqueous mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrobromic
acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, ar,d the like. The preferred acid
is sulfuric acid. The reaction may be carried out over a wide range of temperatures,
such as from about 20° to the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture. Preferably
the temperature is maintained in a range of about 75° to about 100° Celsius. The reaction
is preferably carried out at atmospheric pressure. Subatmospheric or superatmospheric
pressures may be employed but are not generally preferred.
[0010] The following specific examples are provided to further illustrate this invention
and the manner in which it may be carried out. It will be understood, however, that
the specific details given in the examples have been chosen for purpose of illustration
and are not to be construed as a limitation on the invention. In the examples, unless
otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight and all temperatures
are in degrees Celsius.
EXAMPLE 1
[0011] A) To a solution of 0.18 parts of sodium hydroxide in 5.0 parts of water was added
0.5 parts of 4,5-difluorophthalamic acid. The solution was heated to about 50°C and
3.5 parts of 5.7% sodium hypochlorite solution was added. The reaction solution was
heated to about 65°-70°C and maintained at that temperature range for about 30 minutes
then cooled to about 20
0-25
0C. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was slowly added with the resultant formation of
a precipitate.
[0012] The addition of hydrochloric acid was continued until no further precipitate formed.
The mixture was then extracted with chloroform, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate,
filtered, and the remaining chloroform removed under reduced pressure to yield 0.42
parts of 4,5-difluoroanthranilic acid having a melting point of 182°-183°C. The product
was analyzed by infra-red spectrographic techniques and liquid phase chromatographic
techniques and confirmed to be a high purity (99.0%) 4,5-difluoroanthranilic acid
in a yield of 99% based on the starting 4,5-difluorophthalamic acid.
[0013] B) A solution of 0.8 parts of 4,5-difluoroanthranilic acid in 40 parts of 1N sulfuric
acid was placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a reflux condenser. The reaction
solution was refluxed for 70 hours, then cooled, basified to a pH of about 8.0-9.0
by addition of 1N sodium hydroxide, caturated with sodium chloride and extracted with
diethyl ether. The mixture was then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered,
and the diethyl ether removed under reduced pressure to yield 0.54 parts of product.
Chromatographic analysis of the product indicated a 78% . yield (based on the 4,5-difluoroanthranilic
acid) of 96% pure 3,4-difluoroaniline. The structure of the 3,4-difluoroaniline product
was confirmed by C
13 NMR.
EXAMPLE 2
[0014] A) Dimethoxyethane (43 parts) was charged to a reactor and ammonia was bubbled in
to form a saturated solution. The ammonia addition was maintained while a solution
of 1.84 parts of 4,5-difluorophthalic anhydride in 13 parts of dimethoxyethane was
.added slowly over a period of 0.5 hours. The reaction mixture was stirred for an
additional 5-minute period and the dimethoxyethane was removed by vacuum distillation.
The remaining white solid (the ammonium salt of 4,5-difluorophthalamic acid) was dissolved
in 20 parts of aqueous sodium hydroxide (40% NaOH) and the solution was de-gassed
under moderately reduced pressure to remove any remaining ammonia; then heated at
atmospheric pressure, to 50°C and maintained at tha temperature while 14.1 parts of
a 5.78% aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution was added. The solution was then heated
to 60°-65°C and maintained at that temperature, with stirring for about 30 minutes;
then cooled to about 20°-25°C and acidified to a pH of 4-6, by addition of concentrated
hydrochloric acid. A precipitate formed and the mixture was extracted with chloroform.
The acidification procedure was repeated until no additional precipitate formed. The
combined extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and the chloroform
removed by vacuum distillation to yield 1.34 parts of solid 4,5-difluoroanthranilic
acid having a melting point of 180°-181°C. The chemical structure of the product was
confirmed by infra-red analysis.
[0015] B) Following the procedure of Example 1B, the 4,5-difluoroanthranilic acid was decarboxylated
by reaction with sulfuric acid, to form 3,4-difluoroaniline.
EXAMPLE 3
[0016] A) A mixture of 20 parts of 3-chlorophthalic anhydride, and 20 parts of anhydrous
potassium fluoride was heated and maintained at about 235°C for about 9 hours. The
reaction mixture was then cooled and the crude product removed by vacuum distillation
and recrystallized from chloroform to yield 12.65 parts of purified 3-fluorophthalic
anhydride (69% yield).
[0017] B) Ten parts of the 3-fluorophthalic anhydride was dissolved in 78.3 parts of acetonitrile
and ammonia was bubbled into the solution until no 3-fluorophthalic anhydride could
be detected (by thin layer chromatography on silica gel with a 7:2:1 mixture of toluene:ethyl
acetate:acetic acid). The acetonitrile was then removed under reduced pressure to
yield 14.8 parts of white solid - a mixture of the ammonium salts of 3- and 6-fluorophthalamic
acid.
[0018] C) The mixture of 3- and 6-fluoro ammonium phthalamate salts (14.8 parts) prepared
as in 3B, above, was dissolved in 140 parts of a solution of 0.77M NaOCl and 1.5M
NaOH. The solution was heated and maintained at 80°C for about 30 minutes, then cooled
to about 25°C and acidified by addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid. An orange
precipitate formed, which was extracted with chloroform (3 times) dried over anhydrous
sodium sulfate and filtered. The chloroform was removed under reduced pressure leaving
6.9 parts of orange solid having a melting point range of 160-177°C. The product was
analyzed by C
13 nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and found to be a mixture of 3-fluoroanthranilic
acid: 6-fluoro- anthranilic acid: three unknowns of 68:20:9:2:1. The 3-fluoro- anthranilic
acid and 6-fluoroanthranilic acids were separated by recrystallization from chloroform
and chromatographic treatment of the mother liquors, using silica gel with chloroform
as a solvent. Recrystallization from chloroform, yielded 3.3 parts of 3-fluoroanthranilic
acid having a melting point of 181-182.5°C and 0.21 parts of 6-fluoroanthranilic acid
having a melting point of 168-169°C.
[0019] D) To a reaction vessel equipped with a reflux condenser and stirring means, was
charged 0.155 parts of 3-fluoroanthranilic acid and 10.3 parts of 1N sulfuric acid.
The mixture was heated and maintained at reflux conditions for 75 hours while the
process of the reaction was monitored using thin layer chromatography (silicagel and
7:2:1 solvent mixture of toluene:ethyl acetate:acetic acid). Upon completion the reaction
mixture was basified to a pH of about 8.0-9.0 by addition of 1N sodium hydroxide,
saturated with sodium chloride, then extracted with diethyl ether, dried over sodium
sulfate and filtered. The remaining diethyl ether was removed under reduced pressure
to yield 0.08 parts of o-fluoroaniline. The structure of the final product, o-fluoroaniline,
was confirmed by infra-red analysis.
[0020] E) Following the procedure of Example 3D, 6-fluoroanthranilic acid is decarboxylated
by reaction with IN sulfuric acid to form m-fluoroaniline.
EXAMPLE 4
[0021] A) A solution of 18 parts of sodium hydroxide and 40 parts of ammonium salt of 3-fluorophthalamic
acid was heated to 50°C and 325 parts of aqueous 5.5% sodium hypochlorite solution
was added. The solution was heated and maintained at about 65-70°C for 30 minutes,
then cooled to about 25°C and acidified by addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid.
As the solution was acidified an orange precipitate formed which was extracted with
chloroform. The acidification-extraction procedure was repeated until no further precipitate
formed during acidification. The chloroform extracts were combined, dried over anhydrous
sodium sulfate, filtered, and the chloroform removed under reduced pressure, yielding
35 parts of 3-fluoroanthranilic acid.
[0022] B) Following the procedure of Example 3D, the 3-fluoro- anthranilic acid is decarboxylated
by reaction with 1N sulfuric acid to yield o-fluoroaniline.
1. A process for the preparation of a fluoroanthranilic acid of the formula

wherein n is 1 or 2, which process comprises reacting an ammonium fluorophthalamate
or a fluorophthalamic acid of the formula

where n is 1 or 2
with an alkali metal or alkali earth metal hypochlorite.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out in a basic reaction
medium comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite.
3. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein 4,5-difluoroanthranilic acid is prepared
by reacting ammonium 4,5-difluorophthalamate with sodium hypochlorite.
4. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein 3-fluoroanthranilic acid is prepared
by reacting ammonium 3-fluorophthalamate with sodium hypochlorite.
5. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein 6-fluoroanthranilic acid is prepared
by reacting ammonium 6-fluorophthalamate with sodium hypochlorite.
6. 6-Fluoroanthranilic acid of the formula
7. A process for preparing a fluoroaniline compound of the formula

wherein n is 1 or 2, which process comprises decarboxylating by reaction with a
mineral acid a fluoroanthranilic acid prepared by a process as claimed in any one
of the preceding claims.